Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-01

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below gives information on the numbers of participants for different activities at one social centre in Melbourne, Australia for the period 2000 to 2020.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

 

 

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The line graph presents data on the amount of individuals involved for various activities at one social center in Melbourne, Australia from 2000 to 2020.

Overall, the number of respondents in the Film Club is the highest and the lowest one is Amateur Dramatics out of the five activities.The participants of Table Tennis and Musical Performance increased where the Martial arts participants' number flactuated.

The Film Club has the highest amount of respondents with 65 people in 2020. Amateur Dramatics has only eight members in 2020 which is the lowest but back in 2000 it had 28 members. Martial Arts started with 36 participators and over the years it showed some flactuation but the numbers of individuals were always between 35 to 40 members. In 2020 it had the same amount of members like 2000.

Table Tennis started with only 20 members however after 10 years it climbed to 54 people and became the second highest. Musical Performance started in 2005 with a total of 10 people and it gradually increased to double in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by presenting an overview and reporting on the main features and trends of the five activities. However, the development is uneven. Some trends are described accurately, such as the Film Club remaining the highest throughout the period, while others contain inaccuracies or under-developed ideas when compared to the visual data. For instance, the student states that Table Tennis started with 20 members, whereas the graph indicates it began around 16, and mentions that Musical Performances started in 2005 with 10 people instead of zero. Furthermore, some details are slightly vague or lack extension. To move to a higher band, the student must ensure data points are accurately reported from the visual source and that all selected features are fully supported with precise figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The text presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear attempt to group information logically by activity and time period. An introduction and an overview are provided at the outset, followed by body paragraphs discussing specific trends. However, cohesion at the sentence level is occasionally mechanical or faulty, and referencing is not always completely clear. For example, the transition between sentences feels abrupt at times, and cohesive devices are somewhat basic or underutilised. Paragraphing is present, but the internal logical progression within paragraphs could be smoother. To achieve a higher level, the writer should employ a wider and more flexible range of cohesive devices and ensure that referencing clearly links ideas across sentences without awkward shifts.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate to convey the basic message of the task, though the range is somewhat limited. The student attempts some less common vocabulary, such as 'flactuated' (a spelling error for fluctuated), but suffers from noticeable inaccuracies in word choice and spelling. For example, 'amount of individuals' is used instead of 'number of individuals', and 'participators' is used instead of the more standard 'participants'. Additionally, spelling errors like 'flactuated' detract from precision. To improve this criterion, the writer needs to expand their vocabulary range, pay closer attention to natural collocations and word forms, and eliminate spelling mistakes that occasionally disrupt the flow of reading.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting structures like relative clauses and time-referencing clauses. There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasing choices present throughout the text, such as 'the lowest one is Amateur Dramatics' and 'had the same amount of members like 2000' instead of 'as 2000'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, and while errors in prepositions, article usage, and comparative structures do occur, they rarely impede overall communication. To reach a higher band, the writer should aim for greater control over complex sentence patterns, ensure correct prepositional and comparative phrasing, and reduce the frequency of grammatical slips.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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